Here is a fun playlist I put together for all of you going to BBQs or hosting your own party! It could even be fun to burn a DVD and bring it to a friend’s house if you are getting the kids together for the Fourth of July. This playlist is adult and kid friendly! Enjoy and safe travels!

1. American Woman by Lenny Kravitz
2. All-American Girl by Carrie Underwood
3. American Pie by Madonna
4. Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springstein
5. We’re the Kids in America by Kim Wilde
6. American Girl by Tom Petty
7. American Baby by Dave Matthews Band
8. Our Country by John Mellencamp
9. Living in America by James Brown
10. R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A. by John Mellencamp
11. California Girls by The Beach Boys
12. Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus
13. Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John
14. America by Simon & Garfunkel
15. Living in the U.S.A. by The Steve Miller Band
16. God Bless America by LeeAnn Rimes
17. Soak Up the Sun by Sheryl Crow
18. American Honey by Lady Antebellum
19. Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys
20. Take It Easy by The Eagles

My sister Betsy is having my nephew Wade’s 5th birthday party this Saturday! I am really excited and traveling back from New York to California and will be able to attend. She is planning on having the party at nearby park with all of Wade’s friends from school and cousins. I was trying to brainstorm some fun and relatively inexpensive ideas for his birthday to entertain the kids. Here are some ideas and tips for your kiddo’s party too!

Make this hysterical cake for daddy this Father’s Day – a remote control cake! Of course, I am not a proponent of promoting television watching, but in my home growing up, my dad definitely had “control” over the TV’s remote control…or he would fall asleep with it in his hand where you couldn’t move it. Ha! Bake this cake or even make a big brownie sheet and decorate it with your children for this Sunday’s Father’s Day!

INGREDIENTS:

1 baked 13- by 9-inch cake or brownie

Dad’s favorite frosting

Gel icing

Various candies

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Slightly trim the long sides of a baked 13- by 9-inch cake or brownie to resemble a remote control.

2. Spread on a layer of Dad’s favorite frosting, then press on various candies (we used Skittles, M&M’s, and Spree candies) for control buttons.

3. Finally, use gel icing to add numbers, arrows, or other symbols to some of the buttons.

Looking for the perfect Father’s Day present? This six-piece desktop decoration showcases family photos on two sides when it’s assembled and doubles as a brainteaser when Dad needs a distraction.

You will need:

6 (1 1/2-inch) wooden cubes

Acrylic paints and paintbrushes

Rubber band

Thin black marker

2 photos (3×5 or 4×6)

Double-sided adhesive sheets

Scissor

X-Acto knife

Letter stickers (optional)

How To:

Paint the sides of each cube, leaving the top and bottom bare.

When they’re dry, arrange them in a rectangle, unpainted sides up, and wrap a rubber band around them to hold them together.

Step 2

Using the marker, trace the rectangle onto the picture side of each photo, making sure everyone’s faces fit within the rectangle. Apply a double-sided adhesive sheet to the back of each photo and cut along the tracing lines. Peel off the adhesive’s backing and adhere one photo to the top of the cubes and one to the bottom (since it’s a bit tricky, it’s a parent’s job).

Divide the photos by cutting along the edges of the cubes with the X-Acto knife (another job for a parent). Add letter stickers if desired.

How are you going to celebrate Memorial Day with your family? Gear up for your weekend BBQs and celebrations or even your local parade with these fun star batons for your kids! Boys and girls love them! These batons promise to be the stars of any Memorial Day celebration.

What You’ll Need:

Scissors

Pieces of red, white, and blue felt

Red, white, and blue ribbons (available at local craft stores)

Tacky glue

3/8-inch dowel

Instructions:

Cut a pair of 6-inch stars from red, white, or blue felt.

Cut a slightly smaller pair (ours were 4 inches across) from a different color of felt, and an even smaller pair (ours were 3 inches across) from the third color.

Use tacky glue to affix the stars to each other. Glue together the 2 sets of stars, sandwiching a 3/8-inch dowel between them.

Allow the glue to dry, then finish the baton by tying a length of red, white, and blue ribbon around the dowel.